Image forming apparatus, toner case attachable to image forming apparatus

Abstract

A shutter member of a toner case includes a compatible key and an engaged portion. A storage portion for storing the toner case includes a compatible member rockably supported at a position that faces the shutter member during an insertion process of the toner case. The compatible member includes a first contact portion and a first engaging portion. The first contact portion is located on a forward side of a rocking shaft of the compatible member in the insertion direction. The first engaging portion is located on a backward side of the rocking shaft in the insertion direction. During an insertion process of the toner case, the first engaging portion of the compatible member is engaged with the engaged portion so that the shutter member moves from a closing position to an opening position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a toner case including a shutter member configured to move between an opening position and a closing position, wherein when the shutter member is at the opening position, a toner discharge port formed in a bottom portion of the toner case is opened, and when the shutter member is at the closing position, the toner discharge port is closed; and 
 a case attachment portion configured to support the toner case inserted therein toward a predetermined attachment position such that the toner case is attached at the attachment position in a detachable manner, wherein 
 the shutter member includes:
 a compatible key projecting downward from the shutter member and provided at a compatible position that corresponds to a type of the toner case; and 
 an engaged portion provided at a position separated from the compatible key in a direction opposite to an insertion direction in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, 
 
 the case attachment portion includes:
 a compatible member rockably supported at a position that faces the shutter member during a process in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member including a first contact portion and a first engaging portion, the first contact portion being located on a forward side of a rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, the first engaging portion being located on a backward side of the rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, 
 
 in a state where the toner case is not inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member is disposed at a first position where the first engaging portion is separated from an insertion path of the compatible key, and the first contact portion intersects the insertion path, and 
 during the process in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member is disposed at a second position where the compatible key comes in contact with the first contact portion and causes the compatible member to rock so that the first contact portion is separated from the insertion path and the first engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, and the shutter member moves from the closing position to the opening position. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the toner case includes:
 a projection portion projecting downward from the bottom portion and provided on the backward side of the shutter member in the insertion direction, 
 
 the case attachment portion includes:
 an incompatible member rockably supported at a position separated from the compatible member along a rocking axis direction, the incompatible member including a second contact portion and a second engaging portion, the second contact portion being located on the forward side of the rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, the second engaging portion being located on the backward side of the rocking fulcrum in the insertion direction, wherein 
 
 in a case where an incompatible toner case having a compatible key at a position corresponding to the incompatible member, is attached,
 in a state where the incompatible toner case is not inserted, the compatible member is disposed at a third position where the second engaging portion is separated from the insertion path of the compatible key, and the second contact portion intersects the insertion path, and 
 during a process in which the incompatible toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, the compatible member is disposed at a fourth position where the compatible key comes in contact with the second contact portion and causes the compatible member to rock so that the second engaging portion is engaged with the projection portion and the second contact portion is separated from the insertion path. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 when the shutter member moves from the closing position to the opening position, the projection portion comes in contact with the shutter member and restricts the shutter member from moving further. 
 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a biasing member configured to, when the toner case is pulled out from the attachment position of the case attachment portion, bias the shutter member toward the closing position. 
 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the biasing member is an elastic member provided in the toner case and configured to elastically bias the shutter member from the opening position toward the closing position. 
 
     
     
       6. A toner case comprising a shutter member configured to move between an opening position and a closing position, wherein when the shutter member is at the opening position, a toner discharge port formed in a bottom portion of the toner case is opened, and when the shutter member is at the closing position, the toner discharge port is closed, the toner case being attachable at a predetermined attachment position in a case attachment portion, wherein
 the shutter member includes:
 a compatible key projecting downward from the shutter member and provided at a compatible position that corresponds to a type of the toner case; and 
 an engaged portion provided at a position separated from the compatible key in a direction opposite to an insertion direction in which the toner case is inserted in the case attachment portion, and 
 
 during a process in which the toner case is inserted toward the attachment position, a compatible member provided in the case attachment portion is separated from an insertion path of the compatible key, and a part of the compatible member is engaged with the engaged portion in response to separation of the compatible member from the insertion path such that the shutter member moves from the closing position to the opening position.